News

At Least One Dead After 7.1 Magnitude Quake Strikes Near Coast of Peru

January 14 2018 08:45 PM EDT

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At a Glance

The Peruvian coast was rocked by a 7.1 magnitude earthquake Sunday morning.

At least one death has been reported.

Damages have been reported.

A 7.1 magnitude earthquake struck near the coast of Peru early Sunday, leaving at least one person dead and causing damages and power outages.

The only fatality occurred when a man, 55, was crushed and killed by a fallen rock, according to the Associated Press. At least 65 people were injured during the quake, which also reportedly blocked roads and caused adobe homes to collapse.

The earthquake destroyed 171 homes, displacing the same number of families, Peru's National Emergency Operations Center said on its website Sunday night. It added that 736 families had been affected in some way by the tremor. Emergency crews have sent tents and mattresses to those in need.

The epi center was 42 kilometers (26 miles) south-southwest of the small town Acari in the Arequipa district, with the earthquake hitting at 0918 GMT (4:18 a.m. EST) at a depth of 12.1 kilometers (about 7.5 miles).

For a short time after the temblor, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said that localized tsunami waves could affect parts of the Peru and Chile coastline. No tsunami has been detected and the threat of one has now passed.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

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